Cetronia Elementary recently celebrated the grand opening of an outdoor classroom.

The $41,000 project was funded entirely by the Parents Association of Cetronia and will allow teachers and students to learn in a designated outdoor instructional space.

As with field trips, learning and student achievement can take place outside the traditional four classroom walls.

Exposure to natural settings can have an intrinsic effect on student’s emotional and cognitive functioning.

The Cetronia classroom was designed specifically to encourage the four C’s of the 21st century learning:

·Critical thinking teaches students to question claims and seek truth;

·Creativity teaches students to think in a way that’s unique to them;

·Collaboration teaches students that groups can create something bigger and better than one can on his or her own; and

·Communication teaches students how to efficiently convey ideas.

Charles Klein Jr. was the Cetronia principal from 1974-2003.

He loved Cetronia and was loved.

Klein was the principal when current Principal Dr. Jamie Giaquinto attended Cetronia as a child.

In Klein’s memory 16 years ago, the Cetronia staff and community created a special paver memorial for him.

The memorial is now the center of the outdoor classroom and was polished and restored during construction.

His legacy and passion for the Cetronia staff, students and families will be remembered whenever the outdoor classroom is used.

The new learning space for Cetronia students and staff would not be possible without the planning, efforts and financial support of many people.

Parents Association President Maraleen Shields was involved from the beginning, helping to find the architect, landscaper and communicating with Principal Giaquinto throughout the process.

Heather Wight, fifth-grade teacher, and Susan Hardy, art teacher, were also instrumental with the design and ideas for the outdoor space.

They spearheaded communication with Cetronia faculty to share and gather ideas.

Samantha Ciotti Falcone, owner of SCF Architecture, a 1990 Parkland graduate and former Cetronia student, was also instrumental.

She donated her time to meet with the team at Cetronia and ultimately create the architectural renderings necessary for the landscaper.

Dave Keppel, director of school services at Parkland, oversaw the quality, safety and permitting for the project.

Fifth graders from each classroom were at the ribbon cutting and they shared a couple remarks on how they envision using the outdoor classroom.

Their ideas ranged from holding student government meetings there to having music, art and library class outside.

They also suggested the space could be used as a positive behavior reward for lunch time and as a space to conduct mindfulness or “brain breaks.”

Another student could see STEM activities taking place there, especially messy ones that use items such as sand and mud.

Even Hedgie the Hedge Hog was on hand to celebrate the beautiful new space.